Calgary Flames: Five Reasons They Made It To The Playoffs

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Feb 15, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with right wing Michael Frolik (67) and center Mikael Backlund (11) after scoring a goal in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports /

3M LINE

All season long, the Michael Frolik, Mikael Backlund, and Matthew Tkachuk line, or as the internet calls them, the 3M line, has been the Calgary Flames’ best and most consistent line all season long. Since Matthew Tkachuk joined that line on October 25th, they’ve kicked off as the Flames most trustworthy line.

This season they have the third highest corsi-for in the entire NHL (min. 200 TOI) with 767 and the sixth highest CF% in the entire NHL with 57.84%. So clearly, they’re not only the best line on the Flames but they’re one of the best in the entire league. All this taken from Corsica hockey.

Backlund and Frolik are also an incredible dynamic duo on the penalty-kill and are a big factor for why the PK sits somewhere in the middle of the league rather than close to the bottom, like they were last season.

But it’s not just Calgary Flames fans who are wary of this, the team is as well.

Via Calgaryflames.com:

"“One of the top lines in the league, for sure, both ends,” Mark Giordano said last month. “But we’ve been saying that all year. “Can’t say much more. The goals they’ve been scoring are huge. Backs has taken that step up to a No.1 centreman and run with it. “They get rewarded for defensive play, which is what we want to be all about. They get above pucks, make good plays and good decisions. “It’s been fun to watch.”"

A writer here at FanSided did an entire analysis on the 3M line which can be found here, but basically (according to Corsica), only one line sees a higher percentage of faceoffs in their own zone than the 3M line. But they still dominate offensively. And all three are among the top five for +/- on the team.

They dominate defensively, they dominate offensively, it’s hard to argue against this line. So much so that Backlund is now part of conversations for the Selke trophy.

This line has been talked about all season long and rightfully so. And no doubt in my mind that they’ll dominate in the playoffs as well.

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